Riots | GWOP MAGAZINE

Los Angeles (CNN) — Rodney King, whose beating by Los Angeles police in 1991 was caught on camera and sparked riots after the acquittal of the four officers involved, was found dead in his swimming pool Sunday, authorities and his fiancee confirmed. He was 47.

Police in Rialto, California, received a 911 call from King’s fiancee, Cynthia Kelly, about 5:25 a.m., said Capt. Randy DeAnda. Responding officers found King at the bottom of the pool, removed him and attempted to revive him. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital, DeAnda said.

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2012 marked the 20 Year Anniversary of the LA Riots

20 years ago this week began one of the most destructive riots in US History.

A jury verdict in the infamous beating of Rodney King set off the Los Angeles riots in which 53 people died, more than 2,000 were injured and property damage totaled $1 billion.

For more than a year, the people of Los Angeles had been watching the video of four police officers beating King at the end of a pursuit in Lakeview Terrace. On April 29, 1992, the world was watching when the verdict came in for officers Timothy Wind, Laurence Powell, Theodore Briseno and Sgt. Stacy Koon. All of the defendants were acquitted, except for one count against Powell in which the jury could not decide.